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On the same day the Conservative government passed a motion to speed up debate on its anti-terror bill that would expand the powers of Canada's spy agency, four former prime ministers issued a joint letter calling for more government oversight of CSIS.

Jean Chretien, Joe Clark, Paul Martin and John Turner signed the open letter, along with 18 other prominent Canadians, warning that "serious human rights abuses can occur in the name of maintaining national security."

"Given the secrecy around national security activities, abuses can go undetected and without remedy," says the letter, signed by former justice ministers, solicitors general, CSIS review committee members and privacy commissioners.

"This results not only in devastating personal consequences for the individuals, but a profoundly negative impact on Canada's reputation as a rights-respecting nation."

Public Safety Minster Steven Blaney's office dismissed the letter, which also calls for parliamentary oversight of the RCMP.

"We reject the argument that every time we talk about security, our freedoms are threatened. Canadians understand that their freedom and security go hand in hand. Canadians expect us to protect both, and there are protections in this legislation to do exactly that," Blaney spokesman Jean-Christophe De Le Rue told QMI Agency.

The House of Commons is currently debating Bill C-51, which, among other things, redefines national security threats to include interference with critical infrastructure and threats to economic and financial stability.

The bill would give CSIS broad powers to "disrupt" these suspected threats.

In exceptional circumstances, it allows the Federal Court to exempt the spy agency from breaking the law in the name of stopping or reducing threats.

Mulcair vowed his party will steadfastly oppose the "sweeping, dangerously vague, and likely ineffective" bill.

The RCMP and CSIS could use their new powers to target First Nations and environmental groups, Muclair said Thursday during question period.

Justice Minister Peter McKay fired back by quoting a section of the bill that exempts "advocacy, protest, dissent and artistic expression."

"The leader of the Opposition is trying to scare Canadians into thinking they will be targeted, and they will not," he said.

The Tories passed a time allocation on the bill Thursday, which limits debate and could see C-51 fly through the House of Commons within weeks.

"If the government is so confident in this bill, why are they limiting debate?" NDP public safety critic Randall Garrison said.

The NDP vowed to stall as much as possible by introducing amendments.

The Tories have a lot of public support when it comes to fighting terrorism.

An Angus Reid poll released Thursday found 82% of Canadians support Bill C-51.

But Canadians are also worried, and 69% said they'd like to see additional oversight to ensure law enforcement powers aren't abused.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has been playing both sides, vowing to support the bill, but promising to introduce more oversight should he be elected prime minister.